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From Your Closet to Chilean Deserts: An Unseen Trail
20 Apr
Summary
- Chile imports 123,000 tonnes of used clothes annually.
- Discarded garments often end up illegally dumped in deserts.
- Iquique's free-trade zone drives massive used clothing imports.
Northern Chile's deserts are becoming an unintended dumping ground for used clothing, with garments from the UK, North America, Europe, and Asia piling up illegally. The South American nation is a major importer of these second-hand items, receiving an estimated 123,000 tonnes annually.
The influx is significantly fueled by the Zona Franca del Iquique (Zofri), a free-trade zone established in 1975. This port allows businesses to import, store, and sell goods, including used clothing, without incurring customs duties or VAT, boosting local and regional economies.
However, garments that cannot be resold locally or exported to other Latin American countries often end up discarded in the arid environment. A recent law change is prompting Chilean companies to address this growing waste problem.
